Brevard County assistant state attorney arrested in drug sting

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County assistant state attorney was arrested Thursday night in a drug sting, authorities said.

Brevard County deputies said John Toppa III, 29, who lives in Melbourne, purchased prescription pain pills from an undercover deputy.

Deputies said Toppa approached an undercover agent in the Special Investigations Unit and bought 10
Roxicodone pills for $200 in a Lowe's parking lot on South Fiske Boulevard in Rockledge.

Deputies said Toppa dropped the pills during the arrest, and only nine were recovered.

A law enforcement report said that Toppa took full responsibility for his actions.

When deputies searched his vehicle, they said they found a pill container that held three oxycodone tablets and one Roxicodone tablet.
Toppa was arrested and was out of jail by Thursday morning on an $11,500 bond.

He is facing four counts of purchasing an illegal narcotic.

“It’s unfortunate in this case,” said Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tod Goodyear. “It’s a person that is involved in the criminal justice system and someone we have worked with as law enforcement officers, but addiction can hit anybody at any time.”

Toppa was fired by state attorney Phil Archer, who released a statement that read, “Assistant state attorneys are trusted to faithfully represent the values of this office. When that trust is violated there must be an immediate and transparent effort to fully identify the wrong doing, hold those responsible to account, and restore the trust and confidence of the public.”

It’s not known if the arrest will affect any of Toppa’s cases.

The state attorney’s office is conducting an internal audit of all criminal cases assigned to Toppa, including that of Jeannie Poff, who is set to be sentenced for attacking a Palm Bay police officer in 2014.

Cox Media Group